Senior PR & Communications Executive - The Monarch Group

Basic Functions
To support the Group Head of PR and Communications in all PR and communications activity for the Monarch Group.
Manage day-to-day running of the Monarch Group press office, maximising both proactive and reactive media opportunities.
Develop and maintain relationships with key journalists across national, regional, online and trade media.
To identify PR opportunities with key media directly or through the appointed PR agency in the UK and overseas.
To proactively seek out newsworthy stories within Monarch and to develop, write and distribute press releases supporting these.
To identify key industry topics and ensure company positioning statements are prepared, agreed and issued- supported by interviews with key media where appropriate.
To develop a clear understanding of how the Monarch Group and each business within the Group operates.

Primary Responsibilities
To protect and enhance the reputation of the Monarch Group businesses through media communications
To ensure all PR stories are accurately communicated to the appropriate media, at the appropriate time through the appropriate channels.
To ensure all media enquiries into the Monarch Press Office are dealt with and responded to in a timely fashion.
To manage the day-to-day work of the Communications Assistant.
To support the Group Head of PR and Communications in managing the appointed PR agency.
To develop relationships with industry partners (tourist boards, hotels, PR agencies) and identify mutually beneficial PR opportunities.
Decision maker and administer media, charity, student and other ad hoc requests to the Press Office including competition winners and charity prize vouchers.
To manage the contract with our media monitoring agency and to ensure it is evaluated on a monthly basis and that Senior Management have access to all media cuttings.
To ensure all press pack material and media fact sheets are kept up to date.
Assist with the production of presentations and speeches for Group Directors and senior managers.
Co-ordinate competitions and promotional activity with print media partners to promote Monarch Group brands to include arranging travel for prize winners where required.
Write any copy required by the press office, eg advertorials to support marketing advertisements, destination copy, plus ad hoc requests from the business.
Respond to and co-ordinate Ad hoc media flight and hotel requests, with responsibility for ensuring the Group obtains the agreed press coverage.
To set up, organise and host Monarch Group press trips to overseas destinations.
Organise and co-ordinate PR photo sessions, including briefing photographers, sourcing props and directing shoots.
To manage TV filming requests and any related ongoing PR activity.
Provide support to the Social Media Executive in communicating key messages via Group social media channels including Facebook and Twitter.
To provide support for exhibitions and brand experience activity.
In conjunction with the Group Head of PR and Communications respond to media crises and issues.
Provide out-of-hours press office cover on a rota basis with the Group Head of PR and Communications and the PR and Internal Communications Executive.
Assist with the organisation and running of external and employee events.
Assist the marketing team with ad hoc activity as requested.
Assist with the production and publication of internal communications collateral when required.
To ensure internal stakeholders are aware of all PR activity within the Group.
To assume responsibility for the Press Office in the absence of the Group Head of PR and Communications, reporting directly to the Group CEO.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Excellent written and communication skills.
Educated to minimum A Level standard.
Minimum 5 years experience of working in a PR role.
A minimum of 3 years experience of working within travel PR or within a PR agency managing travel accounts.
Established travel media contacts across consumer and trade media.
Experience of working with broadcast media.
Good organisational skills
Experience of managing marketing and PR agencies.
Experience in crisis management.
Confident in using Microsoft packages including Powerpoint and content management systems (CMS).